Posted on 08/31/2006 9:12:52 AM PDT by Daniel T. Zanoza
Just when I thought "The Countdown with Keith Olbermann" (MSNBC - cable) couldn't get any worse as far as quality, integrity and journalistic objectivity it did. Olbermann, who thinks he's in a personal feud with cable juggernaut Bill O'Reilly and "The Factor" (FOX News - cable), must be in a delusional state. Unbelievably, MSNBC tried to sell the idea as a way to energize Olbermann's meager television ratings. But O'Reilly treated the whole matter like Olbermann didn't exist and, as far as ratings go, he doesn't.
When I think of MSNBC's prefabricated O'Reilly-Olbermann feud, I picture the FOX News broadcaster as an elephant, with a fly perched on its trunk, but the pachyderm doesn't even bother to swat it away because the fly (who represents Olbermann) is so insignificant, the beast doesn't even recognize it's there.
My thoughts confirmed this mental picture when I asked a friend, "Did you hear what Keith Olbermann said last night?" and the reply was, "Who's Keith Olbermann?" Well, I put down the literary pencil in my mind's eye and rethought the approach this column would take.
Bernard Goldberg, a former CBS journalist and author, wrote an excellent book titled, "100 People Who are Screwing Up America." The book addressed some of the individuals who have had a dangerous impact on America's culture and society. It was a great read and a best-seller. But even though Olbermann's political views are similar to those Goldberg pointed to in his work, Olbermann should not be given the same status. However, he probably would have enjoyed the comparison and listed it as one of the top stories in his senseless "countdown." Indeed, Olbermann thinks he has a monstrous wit, ranking him right up there with Groucho Marx, Richard Pryor and SpongeBob SquarePants. Olbermann does remind me of the latter because as the famous Sponge would say, "He's silly."
By the way, I won't try to describe the program's format because it follows a meandering formless collage of stories all meant to berate President Bush and the United States government. Usually, a show of this type attempts to at least offer counter-point, but if you're looking for stimulating intellectual debate, Olbermann and "The Countdown" ain't the place to be looking. Oh, and Keith, I use the word ain't to add literary punch to the sentence. I know it's slang, so don't lead with a story that conservatives can't tell the difference between...well, if I have to spell it out for you, it won't matter any way.
But Olbermann's type of journalism is, at the very least, troubling. For example, on August 22nd, 2006, Olbermann compared terrorist attacks to supermarket openings. He was implying--with the subtlety of a bull moose--the Bush administration was trying to frighten American citizens with the President's war against terror. Never mind the fact London, Milan, Bali, etc., etc., etc. were all victims of terrorist mayhem. But MSNBC's so-called "journalist" somehow believes Islamic extremists aren't dangerous. The sentiment rings hollow when we are fast approaching the fifth anniversary of 9/11 when nearly 3,000 innocent Americans were killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Flight 93. Olbermann must have been out of the country during the past thirty years...strike that...he must have been on a Mission to Mars or practicing Cryonics until someone told him you have to be dead first--or at least as dead as his television ratings.
However, what can you expect from the network Americans trust least for their news? MSNBC is on a role, however. They now garnish a whopping 3% of the cable viewing audience. In the near future, they will be closing in on the "Cable Knitting Network" (All knitting, all the time). And, once that mountain is climbed, next on the list is a new endeavor titled "24 Hours with the Animal Psychic," a network devoted to the truly insane.
I would say Keith Olbermann would have been better off sticking with the ESPN sports crew, but he wasn't very popular over there either.
So, I guess the best place for him is at MSNBC where no one will see him. I think we're all safer that way.
A Phil Donahue wannabe if there ever was one. The word around MSNBC is that Olbermann would rather hear a fat boy fart than pretty girl sing.
I'm hoping that doesn't mean what I think it means, but that's funny right there. I don't care who you are.
it's a big stretch to call him an anchor
I call him an anchor because he's holding MSNBC's ratings down. LOL
Funny stuff, FReepers.
Now that's funny!
** Mumblemann sux bump **
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